NSERC IRC in innovative fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) Reinforcement for concrete infrastructure

钢筋腐蚀导致混凝土基础设施恶化是当今建筑业面临的主要挑战之一。 在世界范围内，政府和工业企业都在寻找更坚固、更持久、更耐腐蚀、建造和维护成本更低的基础设施系统。世界各地的工程师都在寻找新的和负担得起的建筑材料以及创新的方法和系统来解决问题。解决这一问题的有效方法是使用耐腐蚀材料，如高性能纤维增强聚合物（FRP）复合材料。 最近，这项尖端技术已成为传统解决方案最具成本效益的替代方案之一。IRC在过去五年中的成就和贡献已经获得了广泛的认可，并通过开发用于混凝土结构的创新和耐用的FRP筋，结合加拿大和国外的几个成功的现场应用，对FRP筋技术的进步产生了重大影响。 在未来五年的主席任期内，拟议的研究将集中于以下主要目标：（1）改进、开发和评估现有和新一代具有增强性能和高性能/成本比的玻璃钢筋和系统;（2）采用新的先进成分材料的新的/改进的玻璃钢筋的耐久性能;（3）用当前/开发的FRP产品加固混凝土原型的实验室结构测试;（4）现场实施和结构健康监测;（5）向设计工程师、最终用户和建筑行业转让技术。拟议的主席研究活动将有利于加拿大和国际设计顾问和监管机构，以及业主，他们都将能够对这些结构材料产生更大的信心。此外，作为加拿大在基础设施中开发和成功使用FRP筋技术的领导者，这项研究将保持/加强加拿大在该行业的领导地位。拟议的研究将通过培训40名博士后研究人员、博士生和硕士生来实施。

The deterioration of concrete infrastructure owing to corrosion of steel reinforcement is one of the major challenges facing the construction industry today. Worldwide, governments and industrial firms are looking for infrastructure systems that are stronger, last longer, are more resistant to corrosion, and cost less to build and maintain. Engineers all over the world are searching for new and affordable construction materials as well as innovative approaches and systems to solve problems. An effective solution to this problem is corrosion-resistant materials, such as high-performance fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Recently, this cutting-edge technology has emerged as one of the most cost-effective alternatives to traditional solutions. The achievements and contributions of the IRC during the last five years have achieved widespread recognition and significant impact on the advancement of the FRP-bar technology through the development of innovative and durable FRP reinforcement for concrete structures, combined with several successful field applications in Canada and abroad. The proposed research in the upcoming five-year term of the chair will focus on these main objectives: (1) Improvement, development, and evaluation of existing and new generations of FRP bars and systems with enhanced properties and high performance/cost ratios; (2) Durability performance of new/improved FRP bars incorporating new advanced constituent materials; (3) Laboratory structural testing of concrete prototypes reinforced with the current/developed FRP products; (4) Field implementation and structural health monitoring; (5) Technology transfer to design engineers, end users, and the construction industry. The proposed chair research activities will benefit Canadian and international design consultants and regulators, and owners, all of whom will be able to place greater confidence in these structural materials. In addition, as Canada's leader in developing and successfully using FRP-bar technology in infrastructure , this research will maintain/enhance Canada's leadership in this industry. The proposed research will be implemented through the training of 40 postdoctoral researchers, doctoral and master's students.